Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

Well, now that it's February, Phase II of the job search begins.

Phase I was all of January, asking friends if they have any openings where they worked. I applied for most of them, usually days before their companies announced their own layoffs.

Phase II is still looking for work, but now seeking it out. I'm specifically looking fro full time employment, and from 60K to 80K a year. That's all this month.

Phase III is March, where we go into desperation mode and just grab onto anything that will get some money coming in. Contract, low pay, anything to just get an income.

After March, Phase III contiinues, but we're back into survival mode, too. Basically, just hunkering down, spending as little as possible, trying to run out the lease so I don't get hit with a massive penalty, and spending every minute looking for work.

During the first Dot Com bust in 2001, i spent nearly three years unemployed because there simple wasn't any work. I found work in 2003,m nd it took until 2008 to get my feet back under me.

I'm hoping that won't be the case here, but luck, hope and faith and I haven't been on speaking terms in a long time.

Friend: "You could always go back to Nintendo."
Jenn & Nintendo: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH! .....no."

This Week's Meals roundup:

Koshari: Carb-o-rama (60g per Jenn-sized serving) but given that it has rice, vermicelli AND macaroni, I kinda expected it to be. BUT HOLY COW THAT'S GOOD. The tomato sauce and the hot spices make this so so so tasty. I liked it so much, I don't even mind the chickpeas. Would totally make this again.

Kuku Choma: Essentially African spicy hot wings. Needs salt, but is pretty tasty. They need to be grilled, and I ended up using my broiler and a grating to grill these. Might be better if (1) I grill them correctly and (2) get them to near blackened like the picture showed them to be.

Spaghetti "Carbonara." Eh, it's good and tasty. Absolutely Spaghetti Carbonara. But with the fusion elements of miso, sesame seeds and sea weed just not coming across in the flavor, Il'll just make regular Spaghetti Carbonara next time. It's cheaper and tastes just as good.

Spices, one year later:

Forgot to mention that after I had the asthma test, I hit Kura Revolving Sushi. Expensive, but very good sushi, lots of variety and a neat little robot guy who serves you your drinks. Ticket taking is moslty automated, as are the menus. Lots of tech. :)

A little spendy, but I'll take what I can get now that Sushiland is gone.

Heart: WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING FOR WORK?!

Brain: We are. We've dried up this week's leads, we're just waiting on responses, and we'll apply as soon as more leads pop up. In the meantime, why don't you--

Heart: WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING FOR WORK?! I DON'T WANT TO BE HOMELESS AGAIN.

Brain: We're FINE, heart. We've got until March before we even need to start worrying. Why don't we use this time to see about getting that writing career started that you--

Heart: WE'RE GOING TO SPEND YEARS UNEMPLOYED AND YOU AREN'T LOOKING FOR WORK. WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING FOR WORK?

Brain: ::sigh:: Why do I even try....

Spent all day playing with the shortwave when I should have been writing. I'll write when I wake up.